Seven young
Oglala warriors are manning a tipi camp on
La Framboise Island in the Missouri River to protest a
planned turnover of nearly 200,000 acres of
Indian Treaty land to the state of South Dakota.

The
First Fire of the Oceti Sakowin spiritual
camp
was established after a March 22 demonstration that
brought over 200 protesters to South Dakotas
capitol city
of Pierre on a chilly, windy day to protest the
controversial
Mitigation Act that was passed in October
1998 despite
strong tribal opposition, and without tribal consultation

The young
men staying on La Framboise say that the camp affirms the
Treaty rights of the Sioux Nation to the land along the
Missouri River.
Like the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council, and the
Oglala,
Standing Rock, Rosebud, Crow Creek and Yankton Sioux
Tribes,
they base the Sioux Nations claim to the land on
the
1851 and 1868 Treaties and on aboriginal rights.

Tribes, Treaty Councils, and non-Indian supporters
including
the South Dakota Peace and Justice Center are calling
for congressional oversight hearings to reconsider the
Act,
and for a full-blown EIS (Environmental Impact Statement)
before the US Army Corps of Engineers moves to transfer
any land.

Demonstrators
at the March 22 event in Pierre marched
between the Capitol and Federal buildings, to draw
attention
to the joint partnership between SDs Republican
Governor
William Janklow and Senate Minority Leader,
Tom Daschle (D, SD), who crafted the controversial
Mitigation Act (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe,
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and state of South Dakota
Terrestrial Wildlife Restoration Act) in secrecy.

The
legislation was drafted and passed without consultation
with opposed tribes, although President Clintons
1994
executive order expressly calls for such consultation.

After the demonstration, Chief
Oliver Red Cloud,
Chairman of the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council,
and
Vincent Black Feather, a spiritual leader of the Oglala
Band,
conducted spiritual ceremonies at the First
Fire of the Oceti Sakowin camp.

A sacred fire was lit and the camp stands as a public
reminder that the aboriginal and Treaty rights
of the Sioux Nation are not extinguished.